Cypress Hill Farm

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Monday, September 30, 2013

September 30, 2013We sold our registered ewe lambs this month, and we still have a ram lamb available. He would be a good potential herd sire.He was born on 3/25/13 here on the farm. Email us if interested, or leave us a comment so we can get back to you.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

June 11, 2013Wow, it's been too long, i didn't realize how long it's been. I will try to fill in on a few things going on around here.Well, we got the garden planted after planting some things twice. Crazy weather we had this spring, cooler than normal temps kept seeds from germinating. But we were blessed with an abundant of rain to get things growing when they finally popped up.

Radishes

Squash

We also had 7 lambs born during the Easter week. Three twin births and one single.

Check out our facebook page for some video of the lambs.

Last weekend we hosted the Sicard's Family Reunion on my husbands side the family. It was an awesome time, everyone enjoyed coming out to the farm and having a day of fun and fellowship.

Life gets busy sometimes, but sometimes it feels so good to pause..............and reflect and be Thankful for the blessings in our life.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

This past week we had a case of spring fever........Temps got into the 70's, lots of sunshine. The only cure for this fever is to get my hands gloved up, rake and shovel in hand and get started breaking ground, and weed pulling.

We made a new bed and transplanted some thornless blackberries that were getting to much shade in the far back of our property. Hopefully this site will spruce them up with lots of sunshine and produce more berries for us.

Some of you are wondering why we do the small individual beds??? I use to do the big plot garden in the back of our property, but the tree line has grown and started to shade alot of our back yard. This site, if you have been a follower of our blog, use to be a in ground pool site that we filled in. It gets alot of sun, and its near the back patio. This makes it convenient, and easier for me to keep up. I think viewing it every day encourages me to be in it everyday, pulling weeds and keeping it looking nice and orderly. I love to incorporate beneficial flowers into my beds and I like companion planting as well. Dreaming of a french type garden you see in magazines, Lots of mixing of vegetables, flowers and herbs...Hmmmmmmm I will get there someday.

We ordered some heirloom seeds this year from Seed Savers Exchange, a seed company with a pledge to sell non GMO seeds, and open pollinated and heirloom varieties. With these seeds, and carefull planting, you can grow and save your own seeds and become a steward for our food heritage. I love this company's mission and their efforts to preserve our gardening heritage for future generations.

I stared some tomato seeds the other day, and I'm so excited to see these heirloom spouts pop out the soil. I'm hallucinating and dreaming of tasting these juicy homegrown tomatoes.......I think my fever is spiking!!!!!!!!!! quick......get me a cold rag.........

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The past few days we have had some pretty sunny days, with temps in the 60's. After the weeks of rain and cold temperatures, i could not help myself today................I brought out the shovel and wagon, and went digging for the "Black Gold".

No........it's not the gold stuff the westerners got rich on, but it's the black material that makes my garden beds rich in organic matter. It's the dark organic material buried under a layer of leaves in my compost pile.

Composting doesn't have to be all fancy or complicated. Most gardeners make compost by simply combining their kitchen waste, such as veggie scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and fruit scraps, along with leaves, and other garden waste. Hmmmmmmm I think i see something green growing in the pile......Looks like a few potatoes!!!!!!! We also have access to manures, which contributes greatly and gets things heated up to start the decaying process. I usually clean out the chicken tractor, and the horse stall and dump to one side of the compost pile. I add scoops of the manure to the pile throughout the year, when I'm flipping the pile periodically. No need to buy special activators or inoculants to get the process started, there are plenty of natural microbes in the waste to promote decomposition on it's own.

I usually contribute to this pile all year, and in late winter or early spring i dig to the bottom layers to gather my "black gold".

My chickens also help with this process, when i let them free range, they love getting into the compost pile, scratching and aerating the pile for me. They also love the tasty veggie scraps they get to nibble on and help break those down.

So today i got started getting those beds enriched and ready for spring planting. I ordered some heirloom seeds this week from Seed Savers, looking forward to giving them a try. Hope this encourages you to try your hand at composting. It's not difficult, all you need to start this project is a small spot in your backyard and start stockpiling scraps, and before you know it..............You will be digging your own "Black Gold"Shared this with The Backyard Farming Connectionawaiting spring.................................Sheryl

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January 15, 2013Do you buy lots of snack crackers to keep on hand for your family? That was always one item i would buy regularly. They would come in handy to fill the diaper bag for road trips, or tote bag for the park or other outing, and eventually to throw in my purse for my own snackage.... I confess i became obsessed with crackers. my kids are all grown and i still can't leave home without my crackers.This year I'm attempting to buy less packaged foods with all it's preservatives and additives and replace it with something more wholesome. During the holidays the girls and I were doing some baking and i pulled out my Wilton Cookie Pro Ultra II cookie press.I was excited to find a cracker recipe in the booklet that came with the press. So we gave it a try..........................

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a med bowl, cream the cheese, butter, worcestershire sauce and pepper until smooth. In separate bowl, toss flour and seasonings with fork. Gradually add to cheese mixture. Mix until dough holds together and shape into small logs to fit into cookie press tube. Or you can form into one ball to roll out thin if you are cutting with knife, or other source.

If using a cookie press, press them out onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 min or until lightly brown, watch closely, then burn fast. Makes about 4 dozen.

This is what the dough should look like, I did the mixing by hand it was easier to work it and knead it until it was smooth.

I used fresh parsley, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and rosemary instead of the hot pepper in these. They were fun to make and much better for you. Give it a try and use your imagination, let me know how they turned out and what ingredients you tried, to give it your own twist.

In my opinion, some of the foods on the market are loaded with so many fillers, im striving to change a few items in my pantry for better choices of wholesome foods. Less additives and preservatives is this family's choice.

Monday, December 17, 2012

They are both beautiful, loving, compassionate young ladies and true "cowgirls" at heart. They both possess such inner strength, courage and bravery. I'm so proud and blessed to call them my own.Two days ago as the evening was setting in, i noticed one of our cows was showing early signs of labor. I kept a watchful eye on her until dark, getting excited that a new baby calf would be hitting the ground by morning.

I was babysitting my grandbaby that night and she loves looking at the cows. So before we retired to bed we thought we would ride out and take a look at momma cow from the vehicle on the roadside. She was laying out in the field secluded from the others like a good momma cow does entering labor. After returning to the garage and getting grandbaby out of the car, i felt something grab hold of my back.....I was stuck in a slouched over position....Not good!!!!! i thought.....needless to say, with the help of my youngest daughter we retired to bed, since that was the only position to relieve the pain. Morning came and grandbaby was stirring around in her bed ,and it then came to mind i need to get up and check on this cow. Well, getting up and out the bed was not an easy task, but i managed to get grandbaby and walk to the kitchen to get coffee on. It was a foggy morning, but as i looked out my kitchen window i noticed something i did not want to see............ A momma cow down, and it looked very grim. Through the night she must of moved several places and ended up at the right spot for me to find her by just looking out the window. I yelled out to my youngest daughter to come downstairs right away.....She ran out the door and to the front fence, she yelled back to me " mom, shes alive and the calf looks stuck". I put a call in to the vet and he said it might be awhile till he can get to us. I called my oldest daughter and she was already on her way to come pick up the grandbaby. We have had calves born here with no problems thus far. But go figure!!!!!!!!!! These things happen when the Hubby is out working away from home. I tryed not to panic, and dug through the cabinet to locate an OB chain for calf pulling that i knew hubby had purchased for "just in case" measures. My daughters reassured me "Mom we can do this"....................

AND THEY DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My "cow" girls in action.....priceless.......determined, strong and brave....

The calf was already dead when they got to her. One of the calf's legs were not in correct position. And we had no idea how long she had been trying to push him out. By looking at the momma, she was exhausted. As i stood on the front porch slouched over with grandbaby standing at my side, i coached the girls to reach in and find that other leg. Without hesitation, they eagerly worked at getting that calf out. Shortly after, the vet arrived and he gave her antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. The girls assisted the vet at attempting to get her up, but she was wobbly and would not stand. We were instructed to try to keep her siting up and roll her to switch sides from time to time, to keep her blood circulating. He said it may take a few days for her to get up, could be a pinched nerve from trauma during birth. Or it can be permanent, only time will tell. I thought to myself......how am i gonna manage this!!!! hurt back, hubby away......hmmmmmmmmmYesterday she was scooting around and switching sides on her own. I thought YES!!! thank you Jesus.....We don't have to manhandle her on our own..

Momma cow laying down

By last night she was able to stand. Thank you Jesus again!!!!!! no permanent paralysis.This morning she is up and eating on her own.....

It would have been a bull calf.......... while it's so heartbreaking to loose a calf, i feel blessed we still have the momma. Cows are strong animals, I'm reminded by hubby, and mother nature is an awesome thing to witness. Watching my girls run out there and do what they could to try to help this mom was also amazing. I too........Have such strong amazing daughters......Thank you girls, for being there for mom and not being scared to "COWGIRL UP" Love you both....Sheryl

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

December 4, 2012The fall garden is looking pretty good. We have had several pickings on our mustard greens in spite of the lack of rain and warmer than usual temperatures.

Haven't picked any turnips yet, but i don't think they will be much longer. The leaves are beautiful but taking a little longer to make a bulb.

A few scenes from the lettuce patch. Looking pretty good............

mesclun blend variety

We also have some kale, parsley and shallots along with buttercrunch lettuce growing in this raised bed.

buttercrunch lettuce

Cabbage is also looking good, starting to form a head. Hmmmm hope they are ready for New Year's Dinner.......

cabbage

I wanted to give brussel sprouts a try, my hubby loves them, and that's one thing i have never grew before. I was curious as to how they grow, and couldn't wait to watch the little sprouts grow and produce these little babies.

brussel sprouts

Not many of the plants survived the drought,t but it's been neat to watch these grow.The pok choi was growing beautiful also, but the warmer than normal temps have forced it to bolt, it has gone to seed now.

Chopped up and stir fried with onions and smoked sausage.

Reminds me of smothered cabbage.........for you Cajun gals who have never tried this cruciferous vegetable.Linking up to Backyard Farming Connection , click over to read some interesting stories from other homesteading enthusiast.Shery